NOTYPE records is a Montreal based record label that puts out on-line
mp3, proper CD & vinyl recordings of some of the most outside music
emanating from the fringes of Montreal & around the world. The label
was founded in Quebec City in October of 1998 by David Turgeon, but
the label relocated to Montreal 3 months later & has been there
ever since. NOTYPE has established itself as an important outlet for
the bourgeoning Montreal free improv music scène releasing music often
ignored by most in the music industry.
The label was started because, as Turgeon describes, "we had music
to release & no money to make CD's with." & when pressed
to divulge what exactly the label's vision & mission are, Turgeon
notes, "when I try to define it I always fail... I like things
that are strange, fun, exciting, damning or preferably all of the above."
In its relatively short existence NOTYPE has earned a reputation for
being a beautiful disaster of many "different" styles of music
created by artists from all over the map of today's contemporary music.
"I don't think it makes sense to restrain ourselves to one style,"
Turgeon explains, "& besides, the label has always been about
not really caring about the musical genre, so long as the music sounds
good..."
NOTYPE came into existence at an opportune moment in time & they've
managed to capitalize on the increased popularity & availability
of the mp3 format. But rather than devise a way to exploit the technology
for immediate gain,, NOTYPE has opted to employ the "online-format"
as a means to expose creative musicians whose undeniable talent &
originality NOTYPE has been among the first to acknowledge.
NOTYPE's web site hosts over 70 on-line releases (free with no strings
attached) from such now-notables as Napalm Jazz, Books on Tape, Octopus
Inc., Dick Richards, Morceaux de Machines, Philémon, G.I. Joe Killaz
& the list goes on & on & on. & the onslaught of NOTYPE
releases shows no signs of stopping anytime soon with mp3 & traditional
media releases by Coin Gutter, N.Kra, Click Tracy, Claudia Bonarelli
& Headphone Science scheduled for release in 2003!
NOTYPE's biggest success to date has been the recent release of the
landmark MONTREAL FREE improv 4CD box set. This impressive document
featuring the best of the Montreal Free improv scene has been in the
making for a long time, & this release offers a persistent snapshot
of what it must be like spending time in many of the city of sin's finer
free improv venues with beer in hand. The set contains 4 different CD's
of spontaneous constructions by 4 different groups: (1) Po - "provocative
operations", (2) 'Gypt Gore, (3) Chris Burns, Nicolas Caloia, John
Heward Trio - "presence" & (4) Balai Méchanique. The set
is compiled in some pretty impressive packaging with original artwork
by some of the performers & liner notes by Matthieu Bélager. This
box set is a gotta have for any fan of the Canadian Free improv landscape.
Visit the web site at www.notype.com
for all the details & all the downloads. This site requires a couple
of hits because there's just so much to see, & hear & figure
out. Keep your eyes peeled for the future release of a NOTYPE set documenting
the Canadian West Coast Improv scene.
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